Tape measure hook



W 1932- R. G. THOMPSON 1,860,.635

TAPE MEASURE HOOK Filed Aug. 25, 1930 llll l [MA/TOR ROBERT G. THOMPSON displaced while the tape measure is being handled preparatory to using the hook for. j

' end of a tape,showing the hook in itsworkiii Patented May 31,. 1932 I PAN Y, OESAGINANV, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN TAPE masses 1100K" Application filed August/25, 1930. 7 Serial No.477 ,646.

This inventionrelatesgto a tape'measure having a pronged hook attached to itslring, the hook being foldable against the ring, or extensible at' right'an'glesto the ring; in known manner. V

The improvement herein claimed pertains to anovel construction of the tape measure ing "and of a "cooperating hinge inemberor knuckleof the hook.- The object of thein vention is to provide a simple' and inexpensive foldable hook for tape measure rings so arranged as to provide a positive stopto hold the hook rigidly at right angles to the ring when the tape measure is under tension, a means to releasably'fhold the hook at. right angles to the ring so that it will not become measuring purposes, and also a meansfor releasably} holding the hookjfiat against the 7 ring when the tape is to be used without using thehook. i s

A further object of my invention is to embody in the ring and in the tubular member all of the above-mentioneddevices, namely; the posltlve stop member and the two releasable holding devices ust mentioned. I p

In the drawings Fig. 1 isa face view of the ing position.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line-2-2 of Fig. l. I

Fig. 3 is a transverse section on line .33 of Fig. 1. i

Fig. 4 is .a face view of the tape, showing.

the hook inits folded position. I

Fig. 5 is a side view of the parts shown in Fig. 45..

Fig; 6 is a transverse section on line 66 of Fig. 4.

Fig. shows a modified form of the ring. Fig, 8' is a fragmentary detail of another modified forrnof knuckle.

As is clearly'shown in the drawings, tape 1 is provided with the usual clip 2 and ring 3. My improved construction employs a tape measure ring having side members made of spring material, sons to be vspringactuated toward each other, their outer ends being shaped to present pintle preferably formed of two inwardly directed 'co-airial opposed w Rosana s. rnoivrrson, or Moi ToLAin; NEw'sERsEY-,-assrer1v0a ToLUrKIn RULE co vr:

pintle members 5, the ends of vwhich are spaced apart as indicated at 6.- A-hook is hinged to the pintle, as is customary in hook- 'endedtapes,;but thishook has its hingeconstructed and arranged in a novel way to coact withthe spring ring for releasably. holding the hook either in its extendedposition orin folded position on the ring.

.The hook, which is preferably made of sheet metal, consists of tubular hinge knuckle 7 with one or more fingersprojecting tangentially therefrom andprovided with prongs. I As illustrated herein the hook has two fingers, 8, of suitable size and arranged to erably both, has a part-tubular extension 10 that presents a shoulder stop 10a projecting lengthwise and arranged to engage the top face of side member 4 of the ring, when the hook is in the working position, shown in F1gs.:2 andl3, soias to preventbackward rotation of the knuckle and to keep: fingers 8 approximately perpendicular. to the plane of ring?) while the hook is engaged with the i work and the tape is held taut;

f, The devices for releasably holding the hook in its down or working position and alsofor holding it in its folded position whennOtin use are associated withtheknuckle 7 of the hook andthe' springside members 4 as will constitutes the claimed subject-matter-of this invention.

The body ,propenof knuckle 7 is long enouglrto keep the sideimembers 4 sprung slightlyoutward. I Consequently they normally press against thev ends of the tubular knuckle. shaped to provide a depression or socket 11 to receive and-pockettheiside member): of the" ringwhen the hookis'extended.

Oneor both of these tubular ends is Another. similarsocket 12 is provided to pocket the member i when the hook is folded against the ring'as shown in Figs. 4 and 6. Between sockets 11 and 12 is a cam-like projection 13.

When the hook is in the act of being opened, that is, moved from its folded position to its working osition, projection 13 rides over the inner ace of side member 4, and in sodoing springs it outward. Side member fl; which in its first position rested in socket 12, as shown in Fig. 4, thus rides up over cam 13 and snaps back into socket 11. Thereby the hook is held tightly against the side members 4 of the ring when folded against the ring and likewise when extended to its working position. In this latter position the hook is additionally held by means of the stop 10a, preventing its displacement by forces such as are emplo ed in tensioning the tape.

have shown and described the in- While vention as embodied in a ring having its outer ends bent to form two pint-1e members, it may be formed with only one pint'ie member made long enough to properly hold the knuckle as shown in Fig. 7.

Also, the tubular knuckle has been'described and illustrated as having two similar V shaped ends each embodying a stop 10a and two recesses 11, 12 and a cam-like projection 13 between them. Only one end oftheknuckle may be so formed, if desired, the other end being plain, or one recess 11 may be provided on one end only of theknuckle and a recess 12 provided on the otherend only. Furthermore, the two recesses 11, '12, and the cam projection 13 may in some cases be dispensed with and the spring side members 4 of the ring may be depended upon to frictionally grip the ends of theknuckle so as to hold it in its adjusted positions. In that case the bearing faces 11a, 12a at the knuckle ends may "be roughened to provide the requisite grilp for the'spring side members 4.

n the appended claims, I have pointed out the essential elements of my invention, it

understood, however, that the claims m not intended to be limited to the form of side member when the hook is in its folded position, the other depression positioned to engage the said side member in conjunction with said stop when the hook is extended,

said hook having a cam-like projection on the end of the knuckle between said depressionis, the side members of the ring being arran edto normally bear against the ends of said knuckle and to override said projection, for the urposes set forth.

' 2. In comblnation, s tape measure ring having the outer ends of its side members normally spring-actuated toward each other,

atleast one of said side members shaped to the parts illustrated and described further I than a limitation to "the described form is necessary to distinguish them from the prior art.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Pate'ntis: i i

1. An end ring for a tape, a hook thereon, said ring having side members normally spring-actuated toward each other and bent to present two opposed pintle. members spaced apart, said hook including a tubular hinged knuckle receivin said pintle members, an end of said knuc le being formed to present a shoulder stop. positioned to come into engagement with the top face of a side member when "the hook is extended, and also formed to present two depressions, one of which is positioned to releasably engage said 

